Court jails man 2 months for stealing chewing gum

Abuja – A Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday sentenced a 23-year-old car washer, Prosper Mofor to two months in prison for theft. The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, however gave Mofor an option to pay N10, 000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crimes. He also ordered the convict to pay N30, 000 to the nominal complainant. The convict, of Jabi Village, Abuja, was convicted for one-count charge levelled against him. Mofor prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, claiming that hunger pushed him into committing the crime. Earlier, the prosecutor,
Salisu Khaleel, told the court that one Mariam Ibrahim of same address with the convict reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on March 19. Khaleel said the convict criminally entered the complainant shop on March 18 and stole eight pieces of Orbit chewing gum valued at N1, 600 and two cans of Titus sardine valued at N300, He also told the court that Mofor stole a can of Malt drink valued at N120, and N80,000 cash. According to the prosecutor, the offence is punishable under Section 288 of the Penal Code.